Halter Support Device for Use with Lactation Pump Collection Containers

ABSTRACT

A halter support apparatus for carrying milk collection containers comprise a halter strap and at least one support cup. The at least one support cup is capable of carrying the milk collection containers. The halter strap is connected to at least one support cup to support the weight of the milk collection containers. The halter strap is adjustable such that the milk collection containers inside the at least one support cup can be suspended in place near the user&#39;s breasts. The halter support apparatus also includes an elastic band wrapped around the user&#39;s body for securing the attachment of the breast shields to the user&#39;s breasts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/589,784, filed on Nov. 22, 2017, the contentof which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing andsupporting pumping devices that extract milk from lactating women, andmore particularly, to a halter apparatus that supports the weight ofmilk collection containers for breast milk pumping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, portable hands-free breast pumping apparatuses enable alactating woman to collect milk without holding the breast pump in placeso as to free the woman to perform other tasks. Apparatuses for pumpingbreast milk typically include a breast pump for pumping the breast milk,a breast shield which covers and attaches the pump to the breast,suction tubing for connecting the pump to the breast shield, and abottle, bottles or other collection containers connected to the breastshield for collecting the breast milk. Additionally, a separate supportstrap or brassiere is required to secure the pump to the breasts bysecuring the pump's breast shield to the breasts. The support brassieresor straps used in “hand-free” style pumping, normally function byholding the pump's breast shield to breasts.

For examples, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,996 issued to Angel Fields (Fields'996 patent), entitled “Breast Milk Pump Support Harness,” teaches tosecure the breast milk pump against the breast and discloses that“detachable collection bottle support assemblies” are attached to thebrassiere at fix locations and not to the halter strap. The attachmentof the support cups to the brassier would also create torque on thebreasts and nipples due to the increasing weight of the milk collectioncontainers. Thus, the device in the Field '996 would not provide as muchsupport to the milk collection containers from underneath, and wouldincrease the chance of pulling on the breasts and nipples from theweight of the milk collection containers.

Further, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,377 issued to Jonathan C. Gillan(Gillan '377 patent), entitled “Hands-Free Breast Milk ExpressionSystem,” teaches “a strap can suspend from a nursing mother's neck,thereby suspending a pair of breast milk collection devices near thenursing mother's breast.” Though the Gillan '377 patent discloses thatthe strap can secure the milk collection devices in positions near thebreasts, it does not teach the support of the weight of the milkcollection containers.

Similarly, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,611,399 issued to Merilee Brigham(Brigham '399 patent), entitled “Hands-Free Breast Pumping SupportDevice,” also discloses an adjustable strap, but the strap is connectedwith the breast pumping device and does not support the weight of themilk collection containers. Neither Gillan '377 patent nor Brigham '399patent includes support cups to fully secure and support the increasingweight of the milk collection containers.

Since these apparatuses do not support the weight of the milk collectioncontainers from underneath when the milk is being collected, thedisadvantage of such apparatuses is that as the volume of milk pumpedincrease, the weight of the milk in the milk collection containers maypull down on the breasts and nipples, which can cause great discomfortand subsequently cause the mother to have to hold the milk collectioncontainers to support their weight, thus requiring the use of the user'shands. In short, the practical “hands-free” pumping requires utility oftwo mechanisms: that of securing the breast shield to the breast, andthat of supporting the weight of the collection containers fromunderneath.

The object of the present invention is to provide a convenienthands-free nursing system that can support the weight of the milkcollection containers, including bottles, bags, or other receptacles, soas to eliminate any pull on the breasts and use of the user's hands tosupport the weight of the milk collection containers.

More specifically, the object of the present invention provides a haltersupport device for carrying and supporting the milk collectioncontainers so that there is no need for the user to hold the milkcollection containers during breast pumping, while also preventing thebreast shields and the increasing weight of the milk collectioncontainers from pulling down on the breasts and nipples of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the objectives of the invention, the embodiments ofthe present invention relate to a halter support apparatus for carryingmilk collection containers. The halter support apparatus comprises ahalter strap, and at least one support cup, to enable a user to pumpfrom a single breast or both breasts. The halter strap includes anadjustable neck strap. The at least one or more support cups are capableof carrying the milk collections containers. The halter strap isconnected to the at least one or more support cups to support the weightof the milk collection containers. The halter strap is adjustable suchthat the milk collection containers are suspended near the user'sbreasts.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the halter strap isconnected to the at least one support cup by attaching at the sidesintegrated within the at least one support cup. Alternately, the halterstrap can be attached to the at least one support cup by fastenersintegrated with the at least one support cup. The halter strap can alsobe attached to the at least one support cup with brackets.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one cupcomprises a pair of support cup; in another embodiment, the halter strapcan be configured to connect to only one support cup.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the halter apparatusincludes an elastic band wrapped around the user's body for securing theattachment of the milk collection containers to the user's breasts.

In one embodiment of the halter support apparatus for carrying milkcollection containers, there is provided a breast pumping method. The atleast one support cup is connected to the flexible halter strap, and themilk collection containers are placed inside the at least one supportcup. The flexible halter strap connected to the at least one support cupis placed around the user's neck. In this way, the milk collectioncontainers are suspended near the user's breasts to collect milktherefrom. When the user expresses milk into the milk collectioncontainers, the weight of the milk collection containers is supported bythe at least one support cup from underneath.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbe more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the detaileddescription of the current embodiments and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention havingmilk collection containers inside the support cups.

FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the halter strap having anadjustable buckle for adjustment or detachable release.

FIG. 2B illustrates an embodiment of the invention having a paddedcushion attached to the halter strap.

FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of the halter strap to be attached tothe support cup by fasteners integrated with the cup.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of the halter strap to be secured tothe support cup with brackets.

FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the inventionshowing the halter strap attached to the support cup with brackets ontwo sides and from underneath.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention withone support cup connected to the halter strap.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the support cup from a topperspective showing flanges inside the support cup.

FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment of the support cup in a collapsibledesign.

FIG. 6B illustrates another embodiment of the support cup in thecollapsible design.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention,having an elastic band around the user's body.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the elastic band, where the elasticband has slit holes for the breast shields to be inserted through.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and to fully conveythe scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1, a halter support apparatus 1 according to anembodiment of the invention is comprised of a halter strap 10, and oneor more support cups 20. The halter strap 10 is removably connected tothe support cups 20, and the milk collection containers 30 are carriedby the support cups 20. In one embodiment, the support cups 20 can carrydifferent sizes of the milk collection containers 30. FIG. 1 also showsthat the halter strap 10 can be placed over the user's head and aroundthe user's neck. The halter strap 10 is flexible in length, allowing theuser to properly place the support cups 20 in front of the user's bodynear the breasts, as shown in FIG. 1. As further shown in FIG. 2A, thehalter trap 10 is adjustable and can be detachable, released via anattached clasp or buckle 101. In one embodiment, the halter strap 10includes a padded cushion 103 to provide greater comfort around theuser's neck as shown in FIG. 2B.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the halter strap 10 is removablyconnected to the support cups 20. In one embodiment, the halter strap 10of the halter support apparatus 1 connects to the support cups 20 byattaching at the sides of the support cups 20. In one embodiment, thehalter strap 10 can be attached to the support cups 20 by fasteners 201integrated within the support cups 20, as shown in FIG. 3A. In anotherembodiment, the halter strap 10 can be attached to the support cups 20with brackets 203, as shown in FIG. 3B. In a preferred embodiment, thehalter strap 10 is attached to the support cup 20 with brackets 203 ontwo sides 200 and also from underneath 204 such that the halter strap 10is secured to each support cup 20 with enough stability to support theweight of the milk collection containers 30 when the user expresses themilk from the breasts. As best shown in FIG. 3C, the halter strap 10 isconnected to two sides 200 of the support cup 20 secured by the brackets203 and the underneath 204 of the support cup 20 secured by the bracket203.

The halter strap 10 of the halter support apparatus 1 can connect to thesupport cups 20 in a variety of ways. As shown in FIG. 1, the halterstrap 10 of the halter support apparatus 1 is connected to a pair ofsupport cups 20 configured to support two milk collection containers 30that allows the simultaneous pumping of both of the user's breasts whileproviding balance between the two milk collection containers 30. Inanother embodiment, the halter support apparatus 1 can also bereconfigured to support only one support cup 20 for pumping from onlyone of the user's breasts, as shown in FIG. 4. The halter strap 10 isconnected to only one support cup 20 to accommodate the user whoexpresses milk only from one side of the breasts. Since only one supportcup 20 is suspended near the user's breast, the user can also pump milkinto the milk collection container 30 on one side of the breasts whilenursing on the other side.

To secure different sizes of milk collection containers 30 in thesupport cups 20, the support cups may include one or more flanges 209,211 inside 213 the support cups 20 as shown in FIG. 5. When the milkcollection containers 30 are placed inside 213 the supports cups 20,they can be held securely by the flanges 209, 211 such that the supportcups 20 can support the weight of the milk collection containers 30while collecting the milk from the breasts.

In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 6A, the support cups 20 ofthe halter support apparatus 1 can be made of collapsible materials suchthat the support cups 20 are collapsible to lay flat, as shown in FIG.6B, for easy transport or storage of the halter support apparatus 1.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, the halter support apparatus1 has an elastic band 40 that can be independent from the halter strap10 and the support cups 20. The elastic band 40 can be adjustablywrapped around the user's body to secure the attachment of the breastshields 301. Particularly, because the milk collection containers 30 areconnected to the breast shields 301, the elastic band 40, attached withthe breast shields 301, can place the milk collection containers 30 nearthe user's breasts. In addition, the elastic band 40 can hold the breastshields 301 to the breasts such that it helps creates suction of thebreast shields 301 to the user's breasts. Further shown in FIGS. 7 and8, the elastic band 40 has slit holes 401 for breast shields 301 to beinserted through for collecting milk from the breasts. In this way, theelastic band 40 can hold the breast shields 301 in place, and furtherprotects the milk collection containers' 30 increasing weight frompulling down on the user's breasts and nipples. In one embodiment, theelastic band 40 has the fasteners 403 such as Velcro fasteners insidethe band 40 to securely wrap the user's body.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described indetail above, it is to be understood that the appended claims areintended to be construed to include variations of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A halter support apparatus for carrying milkcollection containers, comprising: a halter strap, said halter strapincluding an adjustable neck strap; at least one support cup, said atleast one support cup is capable of supporting said milk collectionscontainers; wherein said halter strap is connected to said at least onesupport cup to support the weight of said milk collection containers;wherein said halter strap is adjustable such that said milk collectioncontainers are suspended near the user's breasts.
 2. A halter supportapparatus for carrying milk collection containers of claim 1, whereinsaid halter strap is adjustable via an attached buckle.
 3. A haltersupport apparatus for carrying milk collection containers of claim 1,wherein said halter strap is connected to said at least one support cupby attaching at the sides of said at least one support cup.
 4. A haltersupport apparatus for carrying milk collection containers of claim 3,wherein said halter strap can be attached to said at least one supportcup by fasteners integrated with said at least one support cup.
 5. Ahalter support apparatus for carrying milk collection containers ofclaim 3, wherein said halter strap can be attached to said at least onesupport cup with brackets.
 6. A halter support apparatus for carryingmilk collection containers of claim 1, wherein said halter strap can besecured underneath said at least one support cup.
 7. A halter supportapparatus for carrying milk collection containers of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one support cup further having flanges for holding varioussizes of said milk collection containers.
 8. A halter support apparatusfor carrying milk collection containers of claim 1, wherein said atleast one support cup further includes a pair of support cups.
 9. Ahalter support apparatus for carrying milk collection container of claim8, wherein said halter strap is configured to connect to one of saidpair of support cups.
 10. A halter support apparatus for carrying milkcollection containers of claim 1, further comprising an elastic bandwrapped around the user's body for securing the attachment of said milkcollection containers to the user's breast.
 11. A halter supportapparatus for carrying milk collection containers, comprising: a halterstrap, said halter strap including an adjustable neck strap; a pair ofsupport cups, said pair of support cups is capable of carrying said milkcollections containers, further having: flanges inside said pair ofsupport cups for holding various sizes of said milk collectioncontainers; an elastic band, said elastic band wrapped around the user'sbody; wherein said halter strap is connected to said pair of supportcups to support the weight of said milk collection containers; whereinsaid halter strap is adjustable such that said milk collectioncontainers are suspended near the user's breasts; wherein said elasticband is capable of securing the attachment of said milk collectioncontainers to the user's breasts.
 12. A halter support apparatus forcarrying milk collection containers of claim 11, wherein said halterstrap is configured to connect to one of said pair of support cups. 13.A halter support apparatus for carrying milk collection containers ofclaim 11, wherein said halter strap is connected to said pair of supportcups by attaching at the sides of said at least one support cup.
 14. Ahalter support apparatus for carrying milk collection containers ofclaim 13, wherein said halter strap can be attached to said pair ofsupport cups by fasteners integrated with said at least one support cup.15. A halter support apparatus for carrying milk collection containersof claim 13, wherein said halter strap can be attached to said pair ofsupport cups with brackets.
 16. A halter support apparatus for carryingmilk collection containers of claim 11, wherein said halter strap can besecured underneath said pair of support cups.
 17. A breast pumpingmethod for carrying milk collection containers, the method comprising:connecting at least one support cup to a flexible halter strap, whereinsaid milk collection containers are carried by said at least one supportcup; placing said flexible halter strap connected to said at least onesupport cup around the user's neck such that said milk collectioncontainers are suspended near the user's breasts to collect milktherefrom; wherein when the user expresses milk into said milkcollection containers, the increasing weight of said milk collectioncontainers is supported by said at least one support cup fromunderneath.
 18. The method of claim 17, said method further comprisingconnecting said flexible halter strap to a pair of support cups,allowing the user to pump milk simultaneously from both breasts to saidmilk collection containers placed inside said pair of support cups. 19.The method of claim 18, said method further comprising connecting saidflexible halter strap to one of said pair of support cups such that theuser can collect milk to said milk collection container from one sidewhile nursing on the other side of the breasts.
 20. The method of claim17, said method further comprising providing an elastic band wrappedaround the user's body such that the user can secure the attachment ofsaid milk collection containers to the user's breast.